Do watch what you choose to eat after having a dental filling.
What you are able to eat or do after your filling greatly depends on the types of dental filling that you receive. Because composite white fillings harden instantly under the blue light your dentist uses, you can eat and drink immediately following the procedure.
You may want to focus on eating foods that are soft and require very little chewing.
If you have any pain or swelling from your visit then you should wait to eat until these have passed.
Metal dental fillings take a bit of time to harden, so most dentists will recommend waiting at least 24 hours after receiving the dental filling to eat any solid foods.
To avoid biting your lips, cheek, or tongue, you will likely want to wait until the local anesthetic wears off before attempting to eat. When in doubt you can speak with your dentist about an ideal timeline.
Don't indulge in sticky foods for the first couple of weeks after a filling.
After you've had a dental filling you should stay away from foods or drinks that are hot r cold as your teeth may be sensitive. Sticky, hard or chewy foods are also a no-no - for up to two weeks. Anything that will require you to take hard bites and chew a lot - such as meat - is probably out.
Another type of food that you should avoid after a dental filling is acidic food as these are known to increase your risk of infection.
Do take pain medication as prescribed by your dentist.
It is entirely normal to experience some pain or swelling after you have had a dental filling. Typically this will subside in the first day after having your appointment.
Take over-the-counter painkillers with ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate any physical pain or discomfort after a dental filling.
In the event, pain, sensitivity or discomfort do not disappear after 24 hours, contact your dentist to schedule an appointment to check on your filling, to ensure that infection is not developing.
Don't wait to get back to brushing or flossing your teeth,
Did you know that you don’t have to wait to brush your teeth or floss after a dental filling? As long as you brush gently and floss carefully around the tooth, you should be able to keep the area clean as usual.
Do get in touch with your dentist if you have excessive pain.
Though it's true that you may feel some mild pain or discomfort, a persistent sharp or throbbing toothache can indicate that the decay has reached your tooth's pulp. You may need a root canal. Contact your dentist, who can address it for you promptly.
